Started in 1967, The Negro Ensemble Company is one of the oldest most prestigious black theatre companies in the world. The Negro Ensemble Company’s Training Program promotes excellence through practical, character acting, traditional arts, improvisation and play writing workshops. It boasts alums like Laurence Fishburne, Adolf Caesar and Angela Bassett, Award Winning Instructors like playwrights Leslie Lee and Laurence Holder and Acting Instructors like Marie McKinney, Jamie Patton and Erik Kilpatrick.
Learn These Acting Skills:
– Michael Chekhov’s approach to character development
(used on Broadway by Peter Lobdell in the original Elephant Man).
– Jim Tripp and Joan Evans methods (done now at Stella Adler Studio).
– Beah Richards acting techniques.
– Meisner Moment to Moment.
– Script Analysis.
– Voice Production and Articulation by Cicely Berry and Robert Perillo.
– African Dance & Multi-Cultural traditional arts.
– Bel Canto Singing Voice Technique.
Performance Opportunities: The Acting Workshops have culminating performances, usually in the midtown Manhattan area, using an extensive and unique archive from The Negro Ensemble Company playwrights.
What Students Need to Apply: Application, picture and resume. Once an audition is scheduled, come prepared to show 1 or 2 of your favorite monologues or poems that show your range.
Acceptance Rate: Based on talent, eagerness to learn and ability to be directed and create in the moment.